best wheel bearing grease for TH with zirk/greasable hubs

[stang233]

I am so confused on what would be the best grease for a toy hauler wheel bearing. Is it considered EP because of weight? Do they get very hot? Water and weather not really an issue. Mild climate. What is best? Why not use a Moly?

[lincster]

Very true Bob. Thanks!!!!

[BobWanderer]

lincster wrote:

Eyetattoo wrote:

lincster wrote:

spadoctor wrote:
do NOT use just any wheel bearing grease...it needs to be of the same type formulation to mix with what was used to pack originally. Repack and then use matching gun grease. Also they need to be repacked at least every 3 years or 12000 miles. Gonna get a lot of******for that.

So based on that route of thinking, you would have to take the hubs apart and get every single speck of old grease out before you repacked them.
No way is the average consumer going to be able to know what came in the bearings from the factory....

As long as you are using wheel bearing grease that meets the same standards, it doesn't have to be the exact same as what came in the hubs.

And 3 years or 12,000 miles.... yeah, that is crazy.....

Not with the weight we haul in these toyhaulers.
I am 16,000lbs when I am all loaded doing 75mph in 100F heat sometimes. No way am I going to depend on that grease to last 3 years.

Do you also repack your bearings in your truck every year?

No but they are sealed much better than the wheel bearings on my Warrior. And I bet the bearings in my truck are MUCH bigger than the bearings on my Warrior.

And many trucks (and cars) have sealed bearings in the front these days, couldn't pack them if you wanted to.

[joebedford]

Before heading out on a long trip I give each bearing a couple or three squirts with a grease gun until I feel resistance. Standard bearing grease. Works for me - never replaced a bearing.

[lincster]

Eyetattoo wrote:

lincster wrote:

spadoctor wrote:
do NOT use just any wheel bearing grease...it needs to be of the same type formulation to mix with what was used to pack originally. Repack and then use matching gun grease. Also they need to be repacked at least every 3 years or 12000 miles. Gonna get a lot of******for that.

So based on that route of thinking, you would have to take the hubs apart and get every single speck of old grease out before you repacked them.
No way is the average consumer going to be able to know what came in the bearings from the factory....

As long as you are using wheel bearing grease that meets the same standards, it doesn't have to be the exact same as what came in the hubs.

And 3 years or 12,000 miles.... yeah, that is crazy.....

Not with the weight we haul in these toyhaulers.
I am 16,000lbs when I am all loaded doing 75mph in 100F heat sometimes. No way am I going to depend on that grease to last 3 years.

Do you also repack your bearings in your truck every year?

No but they are sealed much better than the wheel bearings on my Warrior. And I bet the bearings in my truck are MUCH bigger than the bearings on my Warrior.

[Eyetattoo]

lincster wrote:

spadoctor wrote:
do NOT use just any wheel bearing grease...it needs to be of the same type formulation to mix with what was used to pack originally. Repack and then use matching gun grease. Also they need to be repacked at least every 3 years or 12000 miles. Gonna get a lot of******for that.

So based on that route of thinking, you would have to take the hubs apart and get every single speck of old grease out before you repacked them.
No way is the average consumer going to be able to know what came in the bearings from the factory....

As long as you are using wheel bearing grease that meets the same standards, it doesn't have to be the exact same as what came in the hubs.

And 3 years or 12,000 miles.... yeah, that is crazy.....

Not with the weight we haul in these toyhaulers.
I am 16,000lbs when I am all loaded doing 75mph in 100F heat sometimes. No way am I going to depend on that grease to last 3 years.

Do you also repack your bearings in your truck every year?

[Bonefish]

Good list! The key is a high drop point temp. Many of the cheap generic brands do not meet this requirement and separate.

[mapguy]

Using the grease zerk to lube the bearings can be risky to your brakes. Some have success, some don't .....Make sure you follow the axle manufacturers' exact instructions for best results.....

Bearing service intervals are really dependent on operating conditions and mileage, plus ambient conditions during periods of storage.

One thing that most forget about is brake inspection and maintenance -this needs to be done regularly too on electric brakes.

All that being said: The Dexter Axle Specs


I use Lucas Red-n-Tacky as it surpasses the above specs plus the Alko dropping point spec. The Alko axle grease specs are similar but ask for a dropping point temperature of 440F. EP and corrosion protection is real important for units that sit then get used for high speed operation. Corrosion protection is real important for climates with the potential for condensation when the seasons change.

ALKO 2K-7K Owners Manual

Dexter Hubs & Drums Service

[lincster]

spadoctor wrote:
do NOT use just any wheel bearing grease...it needs to be of the same type formulation to mix with what was used to pack originally. Repack and then use matching gun grease. Also they need to be repacked at least every 3 years or 12000 miles. Gonna get a lot of******for that.

So based on that route of thinking, you would have to take the hubs apart and get every single speck of old grease out before you repacked them.
No way is the average consumer going to be able to know what came in the bearings from the factory....

As long as you are using wheel bearing grease that meets the same standards, it doesn't have to be the exact same as what came in the hubs.

And 3 years or 12,000 miles.... yeah, that is crazy.....

Not with the weight we haul in these toyhaulers.
I am 16,000lbs when I am all loaded doing 75mph in 100F heat sometimes. No way am I going to depend on that grease to last 3 years.

[FunWW]

2 of my seals leaked into the brakes. Didn't know it until I took it in for the brake fade that started as a result of that. A couple shots of grease a year for 2-3 years did it in for me. The last bearing job I had done, it was still full of grease without adding. No need to add grease when none is missing. Just my .02 :C

[spadoctor]

do NOT use just any wheel bearing grease...it needs to be of the same type formulation to mix with what was used to pack originally. Repack and then use matching gun grease. Also they need to be repacked at least every 3 years or 12000 miles. Gonna get a lot of******for that.

[fj12ryder]

Well, we'll just have to agree to disagree on that one. 🙂

[lincster]

It will

[fj12ryder]

Hasn't happened yet. 🙂

[lincster]

Don't use grease fittings, you will blow out the seals.